The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-03-03
CUniNo HARD DRINKERS.
A Philadelphia woman's Wonderful
Success In the Treatment Of
Victims OF Alcohol


Victims Of Alcohol.
= What should be the treatment of VIC
Tins of alcohol is question, says The
Philadelphia Times, which has been
discussed and argued for many years
and is still undetermined. Various
forms of treatment have been offered
as the best and safest, but as yet there
has been no specific remedy accepted
by the world. The poor hummer who
is whirled to the station-house in q
patrol-wagon with his brain muddled
with 5 cent rum, lies in his cell al
night, and goes to Moyamensing
prison the next morning. Unless he is
actually attacked with delirium tremens
he is allowed to suffer the tortures of
the damned unattended by doctor or
nurse until turned out. If he has be-
come nuisance to the policemen the
hummer may be sent to the house of
correction. There the doctor doses
him with bromide of potassium until
his nerves are Gained, and q few weeks
work in the quarry makes new man
of him. There are retreats and sanitari-
ums and reformatory homes by the
score in and about the city for inebri-
ates of social standing and wealth, aud
the hospitals care for the unfortunates
who may be broug ht to them, but in all
of them the attendance is furnished by
men. In but one instance is the physi-
cal care of drunken creatures dey0lved
upon women.
St. Joseph's hospital, situated at
Seventeenth street and Girard avenue,
is a well-known institution, but few are
familiar with the departnle nt SET aside
tins. 1t has been in existence for nine
years, under the supervision of Sister
Baptista, whose success has been re-
markable. Within the past two years
although hundreds of men have been
under her charge, from the raving
maniac in the agony of delirium to the
harmless topper whose mind is incapa-
BILE of frenzy, not death has occurred.
The department consists of twenty
large, bright and airy rooms, and IS
comfortably furnished, with cheerful
d ming, reading, and smoking rooms.
Application for admission is made to
the mother superior, but Sister Bap-
tista has the department under her SUI
preme control. Each patient is placed
in her charge Immediately on entering
the hospital, and she at once assigns
him to a room, makes thorough dag
nosiS of his case. and studies his tenn
permanent. in order TO understand not
.only how to treat, but also how to con-
troll him in his abnormal condition.
From information and personal obser-
Walton the sister decides upon the man.
agement of each particular case. 10
this is largely due the wonderful sue
cess that has attended her labors. 1t is
a desperate case that under Sister Bap-
tista's care and management is not
comfortable within week. The pre-
liminary steps taken she proceeds with
the medical treatment. keeping careful
watch over patients who have reached
dangerous age and are Wild and
Eighty. The first object is to secure
the patient sleep and rest. With sleep,
even though induced by opiates, the
danger line is passed, and then the
work of toning up the nervous system
and strengthening the stomach begins
Sister Bapt;sta has reduced this portion
of the treatment to perfection. As soon
as she considers it safe the patient is
offered light and nourishing soups,
Cruel, or beef tea, but they are not
forced on him, If he declines one
another is placed before him. and if
that fails to tempt his appetite still
another, and so on until something is
found that his stomach responds to and
will retain.
After the first successful attempt the
appetite grows rapidly and the digest
i've organs resume their functions.
Then the patient begins to look and
feel like himself, and generally within
two weeks can do full justice to three
meals a day. with an occasional lunch
con thrown in. Absolute recovery de-
ponds in great measure upon the con-
stitution and will-power of the man.
| The names and identity of patients are
sealed from tue outside world, but a re-
cent patient gives some interesting in
cidents of the daily life of the depart
ment.
1T was astonishing and often anus
ing," said he, Ito see the wonderful
control Sister Baptista obtained over
patients whose brains were rackcd by
long dissipation and who would run in
fear from their relatives and friends.
have seen patients of this kind whom
two strong watchmen could not force
into their room, at a word from this
delicate little woman quietly 20 to their
beds and beg the sister not to lock
them up.
lin their preliminary treatment pa
! tients are given liquor at intervals, and
it is pitiable to listen to their pleadings
for an extra allowance, aud the argu-
ments with with which they besiege the
sister. She listens to them patiently.
reasons with them good naturcdly, but
the extra ration never follows unless it
is apparent that it is necessity.
here are not 4 few who have been
sent out by Sister Baptista restored to
health and recouped for the duties of
life more than once to have them re-
turn in a few months or year, again
wrecked by rum. A well-known and
prosperous business man periodically
enters the retreat when liquor has the
best of him, in few days RECEIVERS his
appetite and senses, and returns to his
family. A singular case is that of the
head of a leading Philadelphia indus
try, whom saw there convalcscing
became rational and was on the high
road to complete restoration, his wife,
who had devotcdly watched his treat
! mcnt, one morning insisted that he re-
turn home. as his large business de-
mandcd his attention. 1t was against
Sister Baptista's judgment and advice,
as she was afraid he was not strong
; enough to resist temptation and rcquir-
ed longer probation from liquor. He
left. however, looking br ght and cheer
full. and his wife accompanied him from
tho hosp tai very happy woman.
That even ng he was brought back
! loaded with liquor and subject for
further: repairs.
Il saw ayoung man not out of his
teens, whose father is respected mer-
chant and whose mother and sister
idolize him, brought to this retreat
| while I was there 81 craZv and nm